first edition
1957 · New York
by Sondheim, Stephen; Laurents, Arthur; Styne, Jule
New York: Random House, 1957. Near fine in very good plus jacket.. First edition, review copy of the great American musical based on ("suggested by") the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, with music by Styne and lyrics by a still-obscure Stephen Sondheim. GYPSY was Sondheim's second collaboration with Laurents as lyricist, following 1957's WEST SIDE STORY. Though he had originally agreed to write the music as well, star Ethel Merman demanded a known name as composer and got it in Jule Styne (of GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES fame). Fortunately for the production, Sondheim was persuaded to stay on: "Mr. Styne and Mr. Sondheim are both giants on their own, but in this onetime collaboration they brought out something in each other's talent that cannot quite be found in their extraordinary separate careers. If there's no song as angry as 'Some People' in the rest of the Styne canon, neither is there one quite as fragile and vulnerable as 'Little Lamb' in the rest of Mr. Sondheim's" (Rich). 8'' x 5.25''. Original quarter blue cloth with silver-lettered cream boards and black and white photographic paste-on. In original unclipped ($2.95) red dust jacket. 144 pages. Original publisher's review slip laid in. Light wear and toning to boards at edges. Light rubbing, minor edgewear and soil to jacket.
(Inventory #: 50977)